YOUNGSTOWN — Derrick L. Stennis, 33, pleaded guilty to burglary, domestic violence and abduction Tuesday, just before opening statements in his trial were about to begin.

Prosecutors are recommending that Stennis get two to three years in prison when he is sentenced at 11 a.m. May 9. Stennis will be able to argue for a lesser sentence.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors asked that several other charges be dismissed. Judge Anthony D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court presided over the case. The parties selected a jury Monday morning. They returned Tuesday to hear opening statements and first witnesses, but those were not needed once Stennis entered a guilty plea.

The burglary charge to which Stennis pleaded guilty was from Aug. 9, when he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, assaulted her and stole her purse, according to a Boardman police report.

The woman told police Stennis, of Boardman, rushed her from behind about 1:45 p.m. as she was trying to enter her apartment.

She said Stennis pushed her onto the couch and “manhandled” her as he aggressively questioned her about whether she was seeing another man, according to the police report. The report then stated that the woman was able to get away, retrieve her handgun from another room and call police.

She held Stennis at gunpoint, according to the report, while she was on the phone, warning him to leave. He did, and officers saw him fleeing the apartment when they arrived.

Before officers arrived, however, Stennis made his way back into the apartment, and the woman said she saw him grab her purse and run away.

She told police she believed he used a key he had stolen the night before. The purse contained her Apple AirPods, ID, car keys, and Social Security cards and birth certificates for her and her daughter.

She told police Stennis had continued to harass and abuse her since she ended their relationship, according to the police report.

The abduction of a young child took place Aug. 3, according to Stennis’ indictment. The police report stated that Stennis kidnapped their daughter, however the child was recovered and returned to her mother. The domestic violence charge also was from Aug. 3.

Kevin Day, assistant county prosecutor, said the victim was in agreement with the plea agreement that was reached.

If Stennis would have been convicted at trial, he could have gotten about 10 years in prison. He has been in the Mahoning County jail since Aug. 11, according to jail records.

Have an interesting story? Email Ed Runyan at erunyan@vindy.com.